4 of my favourite spa retreats in South Wales.

If there’s one thing I wish I did on a more regular basis, it’s go on a spa day. I absolutely love going to the spa; it’s the perfect excuse to completely take a break from life, particularly when you’re working in a pretty crazy industry. I love how it makes me relax and switch off, and what better way to indulge in a little self-love than a full day of pampering?

I’ve been to a fair few spas in and around Cardiff, and further afield in West Wales too. I was recently asked by a friend for recommendations on where to go, purely because “I would be the one who would know”… not sure what that says about me, but I’m hoping it’s a good thing! Last Friday I went on a luxurious spa day in Cardiff, and I thought today I would share 5 of my favourites in the South Wales area.

Situated in the heart of Cardiff Bay, with stunning views across the barrage and beyond, The Marine Spa in voco St. David’s Hotel is one of my absolute favourites. This was where I went last Friday and I’m still feeling super relaxed because of it. There are a range of different packages to choose from, but I always think there is excellent value in comparison to competitor spas — you seem to get a lot more for your money here.

Facilities: the facilities at The Marine Spa are fantastic. There is a large swimming pool, complete with warmer pools and a huge jacuzzi where you can lie down and relax. There is a sauna, a really good, functional gym, and from all areas there are beautiful views across Cardiff Bay. It’s a really relaxing environment, and you can spend the whole day there without feeling rushed or moved on. I’d probably say the pool area etc is my favourite out of the spas I’ve visited, just because you feel as though you’ve escaped from the busy city, and I just love Cardiff Bay.

Treatments: again, I’ve probably had my favourite treatments at The Marine Spa. I recently had 3 x 25 minute treatments back to back, and it was absolute heaven. I opted for the back, neck and shoulder massage (which I get at every spa I go to, but this one really worked the knots in my shoulders), as well as the scalp massage (which was divine!), and the facial. I’ve not had a facial properly before, but it was insanely good. My skin was glowing afterwards, my therapist gave me advice as to how to look after my skin, and I’d definitely recommend their treatments to friends and family.

Food: unfortunately, this is the only downfall for me as the menu is set out for you and your choice is a chicken or feta salad. I personally am not the biggest salad lover — I enjoy all the carrot sticks, hummus, peppers and quiche that comes with it, but I’d rather make my own choice as to what I want to eat. I get it though, it’s a spa day and the ultimate aim is to be healthy. You could probably order off the bar menu if you wanted to, but I believe that may be at an extra cost. That being said, the chocolate brownie and fruit that acts as dessert is bloody delicious.

This was a spa that my auntie found on a Groupon-type website, and since then a load of my family have been here, simply because the spa itself is so lovely and because you can get pretty good deals too. Lamphey Court is situated along some winding roads, right in the Welsh countryside, just outside of Tenby. It definitely feels like a real escape when here.

Facilities: the facilities here are really lovely. There is a pool, aromatic room, jacuzzi and sauna, and the gym is really good and has lots of machines and a weights room. The bonus is it overlooks beautiful green fields, with sheep and baby lambs hopping around. It’s a really lovely countryside escape and we spent the whole day there, just relaxing on loungers and reading. It’s also one of the quieter spas I’ve been to, so makes for a really peaceful poolside area.

Treatments: here I had a full body massage which was absolutely awesome. You’re pampered from your head to your toes and the treatment room was really clean and lovely, my therapist was awesome and the treatment itself was brilliant. Plus, you’re not rushed out after your treatment is finished and can still enjoy the facilities. I’d highly recommend.

Food: the food here is really great — we chose what we wanted from a full menu and you get to sit and dine in your robe and slippers in a large, airy conservatory. There’s plenty to choose from and we were really impressed with the portion size and the service.

Situated on a golf course overlooking the bay in Carmarthenshire, this is a really wonderful retreat and the perfect little getaway. I’ve been here on several occasions, both with my mum and also with friends, and it’s great for both couples, and smaller or larger groups.

Facilities: the gym is really great here, there are plenty of machines and work out areas, and the facilities itself are really awesome. Situated within a dimly lit haven, there is a a spa pool/jacuzzi, sauna, aromatherapy room, ‘monsoon’ showers, steam room, and heated stone chairs. It’s uber relaxing and peaceful, and I absolutely love the aromatherapy room. The only downside? There’s no swimming pool, which can be a bit of a pain.

Treatments: both times I’ve been here I’ve enjoyed back massages and they’ve both been ace. However, I believe they offer larger packages where you can enjoy everything from facials to reflexology, so I’d definitely like to try more of what’s on offer.

Food: I love the food at Machynys. You eat in the restaurant which has absolutely stunning views of the golf course and coast beyond, and the food itself is pretty tasty too. With the spa package your choice is a little more limited than that of the full menu, but you are treated to two courses and when we went there were plenty of healthy options to choose from.

I think one of the best things about the Park Plaza spa is the location. It’s situated in the heart of the Welsh capital, so it’s really easy to get to and has great transport links, however once inside you feel as though you’re worlds away from the city centre.

Facilities: I really like the facilities here. The gym is fab, the pool is big and spacious, there is a little jacuzzi where you can bubble away in for hours, and despite being in the heart of the city, you feel like you’re cosied away in a forest somewhere. There is a really lovely relaxation room, perfect for chilling in post-massage, which comes with lots of twinkling lights and flickering candles. It just has a really lovely atmosphere, although can get quite busy at peak times.

Treatment: I’ve been on a few different occasions, both as a paying customer and to review for my blog, and for the most part have really enjoyed my treatments. I have been whisked out of the treatment room pretty quickly before (way before the 25 minutes was up), but that was a few years ago and since then I’ve been really impressed with the treatments I have received.

Food: oh my god, the food at Park Plaza is insane. Again, I’ve been on a few different occasions, as a blogger (where I tried their afternoon tea and a three course dinner menu), and also as a paying customer, where we were provided a “spa menu” and asked to switch to the “bar menu”. Safe to say the food is gorgeous — the portion sizes are huge and everything I’ve eaten there has always been amazing. They also do a range of fab cocktails and drinks too.

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Hello and welcome to jessie-ann.co.uk, a lifestyle and travel blog written by Jessie-Ann Lewis. I'm a 25 year old journo, currently working as a TV production researcher in Cardiff. I love to travel, take photos, and blog all about it!